"The Humans" at Park Square Theatre

To open their exciting new season, Park Square Theatre is presenting the regional premiere of the 2016 Tony-winning best play The Humans by Stephen Karem (whose Sons of the Prophet they produced a few years ago). This play about a typical family Thanksgiving dinner is devastating in its specificity, in its relatability, in its raw truth, and in the way it lays bare what it is to be human and part of a family. And therein lies its beauty. I saw the Broadway tour, as well as the recent movie adaptation, so I knew we were in for a treat. The stunning design and excellent cast lived up to my expectations; the show cuts deep and is hard to shake upon leaving the theater. If you're a human, you will be able to relate to The Humans - the good, the bad, and the ugly of it. See it in the historic Hamm building in downtown St. Paul through October 9 (#bringtissues).

"The Humans" Broadway Tour at the Orpheum Theatre

The aptly titled Tony Award-winning Broadway play The Humans is currently touring the country, stopping at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre for one week only. It's one of those plays where nothing really happens in the 90-ish intermissionless minutes, with the story playing out in real time. But in the nothing really happening, volumes are spoken about humanity. Playwright Stephen Karem (whose Sons of the Prophet was produced at Park Square Theatre two years ago) has written a play that sounds so realistic, with characters talking over each other just like in real life (which means sometimes you miss a line or two, just like in real life). It's truly a play about what it means to be human, with all the challenges and joy that entails.